1 Framed

Former Imperial Capital: Augusta, a city that had outlasted the Empire that built it. Even 200 years after the Thousand Year Emperor fell, his legacy and glory would always remain in the eyes of the people. Now, it was up to the descendants of his officials to keep it limping along, even if the Golden Age was over.

The summer sun had just set over the sprawling city when Arkham had decided to return to his room. As a scholar in training, he needed to pass several tests before becoming part of the city's finest. The last barely passing grade had raised an alarm in him and so he endeavored to pass the final test.

"What in the world?" Arkham had just walked up the steps to his section of the male dorm, when he saw a gathering in the hallway. He went up to someone near the back that he had seen around in the past. "What's going on?"

"Trouble, someone must have screwed up." The young man chuckled as he shook his head. "Damn guards are tearing through that room, seriously I hope it isn't alcohol again!"

As Arkham made his way through the crowd, his heart started beating faster and faster. The people who generally got in trouble, lived in the rooms closest to the stairs. Those residents usually were slackers who liked to carry out various pranks such as stealing Scholar's hats or placing apples in random locations. Arkham's room was all the way at the end of the hallway, on the left side which was a quiet part of the dorm.

"No." Arkham started to shake unconsciously, the hallway had fifteen rooms on both sides and he had just past room #11. When he saw the big window at the end of the hall with people in front of it, he knew it was a fifty percent chance now. He had no reason to expect trouble but he couldn't help to feel nervous anyway, the guards meant business here.

"Shit!" Arkham cursed as he saw the door to his room opened with two guards standing in front. The sounds of rummaging could be heard inside, as the gathered students gossiped uncontrollably.

"Arkham!" Trulem, Arkham's roommate called to him as he got closer. He had both a concerned and confused look on his face. "I don't know what's happening, when I came back they were all like this."

"You don't have any contraband do you?" Arkham didn't beat around the bush and just threw the thought out.

"What!? No!" Trulem immediately denied it, a little taken aback at Arkham's accusation. "Do you?"

"Everyone! Outside your rooms, now!" A loud voice boomed throughout the hall, scaring all the onlookers into action. Within a minute, everyone there stood on either side of the entrance to their respective rooms, leaving Arkham and Trulem standing there awkwardly. They were now the center of attention, both feeling the countless stares stabbing into them.

"Arkham, what in the world is this!?" Head Scholar Shar said angrily as he slammed a bunch of papers at Arkham's feet. Shar had just exited their room with two more guards, most likely they were the ones to search the room. "We found this among your belongings!"

When the papers slammed the ground, some went flying in the air. As they settled on the floor, Arkham felt like he was staring at the edge of a cliff. He hoped it wasn't so, but all doubt was erased as the full paper glared back at him. He was frozen from the shock at the content on the papers.

"I'm asking you, Arkham! What are they!" The Head Scholar shouted even louder, knowing full well what they were. He needed Arkham to say it out loud in order to make an example out of him.

"They...they look like questions, Head Scholar Shar!" Arkham said as he finally met Shar's furious eyes. The older man's brows had creased from anger and his robes were shaking too.

"Questions!? You know full well these are a draft of the qualification exam!" The Head Scholar roared, as all the onlooking students straightened their backs and looked ahead. "And who would have the drafts here before they're sent to be approved by the Sages!?"

"You, Head Scholar Shar! But I swear I don't know how those got in to my room. I've been studying all day in the library!" Arkham tried to explain as he was starting to panic a little internally. The Scholars like to have their names and emblems printed on each of their personal use papers, so there was no debating that it was Shar's.

"Enough! We received an anonymous tip about you stealing the drafts and what do you know? I had heard whispers of someone planning to circulate them and it all makes sense now! Your grades are slightly above passable and you felt like you needed to secure your position! And you were even planning on selling it to others too!"

"No! Head Scholar Shar, please you must believe me! It wasn't me! I have too much at stake here!"

"That just makes your desperation even more pitiful! You have shamed your family and all those who came from the villages just like you!"

"Please, I'm begging you now, Scholar! Please don't do this!" Arkham's heart sunk and he started to feel a wave of extremely negative emotions.

"Arkham, I hereby exile you from the Scholars for life for breaching academic integrity! You will never be a Scholar and you shall never set foot in one of our buildings ever again! Gather your belongings and get out within the hour!"

Arkham nearly lost his breath, exile from such an institution meant that no other government positions would take him! He had been blacklisted from higher society in Augusta!

Shaking, Arkham swallowed back his pride and bowed his head towards the Head Scholar.

"Head Scholar! I beg of you once again, please don't do this! There has been a mistake! I have been framed!" This was Arkham's last hope, he didn't suffer for the past 10 years just to be kicked out now.

"Pick it all up." Shar said in his normal tone as he stroked his beard.

Arkham proceeded to do just that as an unnerving silence took hold in the hallway, only the sounds of him arranging and gathering the papers could be heard. After he was done, he handed them to the Head scholar with both hands while bowing again.

"My decision is final!" The Head Scholar shouted he threw the papers at Arkham's face, once again scattering the papers. He then started to walk past Arkham, believing he had made his point.

Arkham could not hold it in any longer, anger was the only thing he had left now. Unfortunately, the guards were watching him carefully and before he could assault the Head Scholar from behind, they intervened.

"You dare!?" A guard shouted as they poked the base of their spear into Arkham's back, knocking him down.

"Hmph! How disgraceful! Guards, remove him immediately! His presence will no longer stain our halls!" The Head Scholar said with a look of utter disdain at Arkham.